JOHN W. CAMPBELL MEMORIAL AWARD

   Created by Harry HARRISON and Brian W. ALDISS, this is given annually in July for the best sf novel of the previous year published in English, selected by a committee of academic critics and sf writers. The membership of the jury has undergone a number of changes, and the award has been variously administered from first the USA, then the UK, Ireland, Sweden and then back to the USA at the University of Kansas at Lawrence in 1979, since when the committee has been chaired by James E. GUNN. The selections have at times been criticized as overintellectual; the first was judged by some to be untrue to the memory of Campbell. (In response, one judge commented that it was no good trying to guess what Campbell would have chosen; the only honest thing to do was to choose for oneself: "You can't second-guess the dead.") The award, which has not been well publicized, got off to a shaky start, but there is certainly room for an award voted on by a small panel of experts, as opposed to fans (the HUGO) or writers (the NEBULA). The winning books have generally been in interestingcontrast to the Hugo and Nebula winners, and include distinguished work that might otherwise have largely escaped notice.

   PN

   Winners:1973: Barry N. MALZBERG, Beyond Apollo; special trophy for excellence in writing to Robert SILVERBERG

1974: Arthur C. CLARKE, RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA, and Robert MERLE, Malevil (tie) 1975: Philip K. DICK, Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said 1976: Wilson TUCKER, The Year of the Quiet Sun (special retrospective award) 1977: Kingsley AMIS, The Alteration 1978: Frederik POHL, GATEWAY 1979: Michael MOORCOCK, Gloriana 1980: Thomas M. DISCH, ON WINGS OF SONG 1981:Gregory BENFORD, TIMESCAPE 1982: Russell HOBAN, RIDDLEY WALKER 1983: Brian W. ALDISS, HELLICONIA SPRING 1984: Gene WOLFE, The Citadel of the Autarch 1985: Frederik Pohl, The Years of the City 1986: David BRIN, The Postman 1987: Joan SLONCZEWSKI, A Door Into Ocean 1988: Connie WILLIS, Lincoln's Dreams 1989: Bruce STERLING, ISLANDS IN THE NET 1990: Geoff RYMAN, The Child Garden 1991: Kim Stanley ROBINSON, Pacific Edge 1992: Bradley DENTON, BUDDY HOLLY IS ALIVE AND WELL ON GANYMEDE 1993: Charles SHEFFIELD, Brother to Dragons 1994: No award